Council Member Alan Roberson, Former Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and widely known as “The Water Man,” recently joined Megan Casey Glover and Isaac Pellerin on the Make Water Work podcast to share his perspective on the challenges and future of drinking water.
Pressures on Water Systems
Alan pointed to the biggest issues facing utilities: affordability, aging infrastructure, regulatory demands, and workforce turnover. While the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) created a strong foundation, decades of underinvestment and new requirements have strained many systems, especially in small communities. He stressed the need for transparency on rate increases and more support to keep water affordable.
“The public is going to have to get used to paying higher water rates, and going hand-in-hand with that, we’re going to need to have an affordability program for people who can’t afford those higher rates.”
Looking Ahead
Alan emphasized WHAC’s role in bringing experts together to evaluate current policies and prepare for future needs. With the 30th anniversary of the 1996 SDWA amendments approaching in 2026 – coinciding with the American Water Works Association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. – he sees an opportunity to refine and strengthen policies that will guide drinking water for decades to come.
Listen to the full conversation here: https://makewaterwork.podbean.com/e/alan-the-water-man-roberson-leading-with-curiosity-make-water-work-005/